Jennifer Balkcom is an eighth-generation Western North Carolinian, mortgage loan officer, and small-businesswoman with over 25 years of experience in banking and finance who represents Henderson County in the North Carolina House.
Candidate Q&A
NC Health News reached out to Jennifer Balkcom’s campaign multiple times looking for answers to our list of questions and received no response. To give readers information, we combed the internet and social media for statements by Jennifer Balkcom that could address the themes in our questions. Unfortunately, we were not able to find material to answer every question.
What do you see as the biggest financial and administrative challenge to implementing the work requirements for Medicaid that were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill?
In a questionnaire published by iVoterGuide, Balkcom said that “Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.” She also identified reducing unnecessary programs and streamlining government operations among her priorities for eliminating government waste.
What would be your plan for ensuring the future security/strength of Social Security and Medicare?
In her iVoterGuide questionnaire, Balkcom said that “Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.” She also identified reducing unnecessary government programs and streamlining government operations as priorities.
What would you support in Congress as a plan to help control health care/ pharmaceutical costs?
Balkcom’s responses to iVoterGuide indicate that she supports keeping Medicaid and Medicare available while opposing additional taxpayer-funded programs. She also expressed opposition to the government maintaining a database of people with ongoing medical illnesses to assess treatment costs.
Balkcom was among the cosponsors of North Carolina House Bill 434, titled Lower Healthcare Costs, in the 2025–2026 legislative session. The bill was introduced in March 2025 and subsequently underwent changes as it moved through the legislature.
What steps would you take to improve access to health care in rural areas? How do we make the Rural Health Transformation Program successful in North Carolina?
NC Health News could not find anything in the public record to address this question.
The rollout of AI is moving fast, including in health care, and leaders in that space are calling for things to slow down. What federal moves should be taken to regulate it, if at all?
NC Health News could not find anything in the public record to address this question.
Where do you stand on federal vaccine policy? What should be done to prevent future disease outbreaks?
NC Health News could not find anything in the public record to address this question.
We’ve had some high-profile food contamination outbreaks, yet the federal government is pulling back on regulation of food, air and water. What level of federal regulation do you support and why?
As a North Carolina state representative, Balkcom voted in favor of House Bill 134, Prohibit Misbranding of Certain Food Products, on March 25, 2025. The measure passed the House by a vote of 106–11.
PFAS contamination is a nationwide issue; how do you address it while balancing public safety and business interests?
NC Health News could not find anything in the public record to address this question.
The building and placement of data centers have become a big issue, particularly in many rural communities. What should be the federal government’s role, if any, in how these are developed?
NC Health News could not find anything in the public record to address this question.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
